I often find myself scouring through Trailforks, looking at the many riding areas in Ontario, thinking about where I want to visit next and how I can ride as many trail systems as possible.
While I’m lucky to live within driving distance of most of these riding areas, doing these weekly Trailforks deep dives got me thinking: what would the ultimate Ontario mountain bike vacation look like? If someone were visiting Ontario for the sole purpose of a mountain bike vacation, where would I recommend they visit?
Well, let’s find out!
The Many Pockets of Ontario Mountain Biking
Ontario has a lot of mountain bike trail systems. A quick look at Trailforks shows 200+ just in South-Central Ontario alone!
Within this mess of systems are many that are not worth your time – most, actually. But hidden amongst the sprawling rail trails and mediocre conservation area paths are many pockets packed full of incredible singletrack and all-day adventures that will keep you smiling the whole time.
For someone not from Ontario, and even those that are, it is a tiresome process asking around different pages and groups to figure out whether a trail system is worth visiting.
Fortunately, I’ve visited most, and feel I have a pretty good understanding of what’s worth spending your time at and what’s not.
So, without further ado, here are three must-visit mountain bike areas for your Ontario mountain bike vacation!
Three Must-Visit Locations For Your Ontario Mountain Bike Vacation
1. Durham Region
Overview
Durham region is at the top of my Ontario mountain bike vacation list.
With hundreds of kilometres of interconnected trails, spending an entire day blasting around and exploring the area is easy.
The hub of mountain bike activity is centered around Durham Forest and its three adjacent trail systems: Glen Major, Walker Woods, and Dagmar, all of which are free to access.
Each of these could be an outing on its own, so to have them all connected is a real treat. It offers some of the most extensive mountain biking in the province (the fat biking isn’t bad either)!
Durham Forest and Dagmar offer the most built-out and mountain bike dedicated trails, with significant trail building resulting in some of the best flow and well-built trails around.
Glen Major and Walker Woods, on the other hand, are more multi-use, having not been specifically built for mountain bikes. That said, there’s more elevation within these two systems, offering much longer descents, but watch out for those hikers!
Trail Type
While each of the four systems is somewhat different, the general trail type is fast and flowy. There is relatively little elevation change, especially in Durham and Dagmar, but this is easily made up for with the superb trail building that offers tons of variety and a consistently entertaining ride.
The trail material is primarily sand, making for great drainage and an area that is quickly ridable following heavy rains. If you’re planning on riding Durham during your vacation and it rains, wait a few hours, and you’ll be good to go.
If you do decide to visit Durham, consider donating to the DMBA. They do an incredible job maintaining the trails, and a massive part of the area’s success is thanks to them! You can find their donation form here!
Facilities
There is abundant parking throughout the area, making it easy to find a spot even on the busiest days.
Aside from that, however, there are few facilities.
That said, the real gem of Durham Region regarding facilities is the recently opened Trail Hub. Having taken the place of the now defunct Skyloft Ski Resort, Trail Hub now serves as the community hub for mountain bikers, offering a wide range of perks like:
- Parking
- Access to the surrounding trails
- Bathroom facilities
- A boutique showcasing local artists
- HandleBar Grill
- Incredible views of the GTA
- Lots of dining and patio space
Trail Hub is also fully licensed, meaning you can grab an ice-cold beer and enjoy the patio after your ride!
No matter what you’re after, stop by and check out Trail Hub if you decide to visit Durham Region – you won’t be disappointed!
Local Shops
Sometimes, things don’t go as planned, and your bike breaks for one reason or another.
If that happens to you and you don’t have the necessary tools, you’ll have to go to a bike shop.
In case this unfortunate event happens, here are some local shops in the area you can connect with:
- Bicycles Plus – Whitby
- Impala Bicycles – Whitby
- The Bike Asylum – Stouffville
- Cycle Solutions – Uxbridge
Accommodations
Durham Region is quite centrally located with plenty of different areas to stay.
Depending on what type of accommodation you are looking for, you can consider smaller towns like Uxbridge, Stouffville and Port Perry or large areas like Pickering and Whitby. All are within a short drive of the Durham trails.
Here is a quick list of some places to help focus your search:
- Homewood Suites by Hilton – Ajax
- Hilton Garden Inn – Ajax
- Holiday Inn Express & Suites – Oshawa
- Our Valley View B&B – Hampton
- The Piano Inn & Cafe – Port Perry
Wrap Up
With a bustling riding scene, incredible trails, and a full-blown trail hub at the centre of it all, Durham Region is a must-stop destination for anyone mountain biking in Ontario.
The above was just a quick overview of the area. If you’re interested in learning a bit more about the Durham Region and its standout features, you can read my previous blog posts, “Durham Forest: The Best Mountain Bike Trails in Ontario?” or “Dagmar Mountain Biking: One of Ontario’s Best Mountain Bike Trail Networks“.
2. Simcoe County
Overview
Next on this list is Simcoe County, whose mountain bike hub is between Barrie and Orillia, Ontario!
Like Durham Region, Simcoe County offers hundreds of kilometres of interconnected trails, offering nearly unbeatable variety and several days’ worth of incredible riding if you choose to stick around for a while.
Within this hub of mountain biking are four primary areas:
- Copeland Forest
- Free to access
- SCMBC Oro
- Free to access
- Horseshoe Resort
- Lift-accessed bike park; a trail pass is required
- Hardwood Ski and Bike
- A trail pass is required
While the riding isn’t entirely free, the trail pass fees for both Horseshoe and Hardwood are altogether worth it, with Horseshoe offering the only lift-accessed bike park in Ontario and Hardwood offering arguably the densest set of premier cross country trails in all of Ontario.
Trail Type
The trail type within Simcoe County isn’t as consistent as it is in Durham Region. So let’s break it down by each area.
Copeland Forest
Copeland Forest is mostly situated in an old-growth deciduous forest with the odd pine section thrown in.
The trail material is primarily root-filled dirt, with very little sand or gravel mixed in. During dry times this is great, as there is more moisture in the trails, which offers better traction than sandier areas. However, things get slick quickly when wet, and you better watch out for those deadly sniper roots (something to keep in mind depending on the weather when you’re visiting).
Otherwise, Copeland offers significant elevation change, with 5-10 minute climbs the norm followed by 3-5 minute descents. This amount of elevation is quite substantial for Ontario, and you’ll be hard-pressed to find descents of this length anywhere else in the province.
You can read my featured post, “Copeland Forest Mountain Biking: A Simcoe County Classic,” to learn more about everything Copeland Forest has to offer!
Horseshoe Resort
As mentioned, Horseshoe is the only lift-accessed bike park in Ontario, situated on and between the ski slopes of Horseshoe Resort.
They offer fourteen downhill trails, ranging from beginner (green) through expert (double black), with a maximum vertical descent of 85M or 280ft. While this may not be a lot, it does allow you to get a lot of laps in, making it easy to session your favourite trail or try out each trail on the mountain at least once.
Regarding trail material, it is pretty sandy, especially during dry periods. This sandiness can make for somewhat challenging riding conditions, making it especially difficult to steer or maintain speed in deeper areas—something to remember if you’re not keen to ride in sandy conditions.
Otherwise, Horseshoe has many features, offering top-to-bottom jump trails, high-speed berms, drops, ladders, and bridges. It’s a unique experience for Ontario and certainly something you should consider experiencing if you’re in the area.
SCMBC Oro
With 105+ KM of trails offered, SCMBC Oro alone is one of Ontario’s largest mountain bike trail networks.
The trails are more leisurely, with most rated novice (blue). This accessibility is excellent for beginner and novice riders looking for an accessible trail system and even for expert riders looking for a warm-up ride or just an easy day ripping around on high-speed, flowing trails (for me, this type of day is often the most fun I have on a bike)!
The trail material resembles Copeland Forest but with slightly more sand and gravel added to the dirt. Overall, it drains well and remains less saturated than Copeland Forest.
SCMBC Oro is an enjoyable network meticulously maintained and consistently added to by the fantastic SCMBC. Please consider joining the club (only $40) or donating if you visit SCMBC Oro or any other systems built and maintained by SCMBC.
You can read my featured post, “SCMBC ORO Mountain Bike Trails – [Ultimate Guide],” to learn more about everything SCMBC Oro has to offer!
Hardwood Ski and Bike
Hardwood Ski and Bike is arguably Ontario’s premier cross country destination, hosting yearly Ontario Cups, their well-known Epic 8-Hour Series, and most notably, the 2015 Pan Am Games.
With 50+ kilometres of singletrack, Hardwood is another beast of a trail system, offering everything from beginner trails to those difficult enough to challenge the world’s best.
One quick look at the trail map will show you how built out this trail system is, with nearly every nook and cranny on the property consisting of a mountain bike trail. This trail density is a highlight of Hardwood, providing effortless access to any number of trails.
In terms of trail material, Hardwood is situated in hardwood and pine forests, providing the typical black dirt and roots you so typically find in this environment. That said, you will find sandier conditions throughout some areas of Hardwood, most notably on the Nice N Easy trail. More advanced trails also have many wooden features, adding some nice variety to your standard singletrack!
Facilities
Again, the four areas are pretty varied, so let’s break down the facilities by each location.
Copeland Forest
Other than a parking lot, there are no facilities at Copeland Forest. It’s as raw as it gets, providing a great sense of adventure and vastness that’s often hard to come by in bustling Southern Ontario.
Horseshoe Resort
Ironically, Horseshoe Resort is located directly across the road from Copeland, providing quite the juxtaposition between raw vastness and a built-up resort area.
As is typical with most resorts, Horseshoe offers everything you could want, with parking, bathrooms, restaurants, and a hotel all located directly at the base of the trails.
SCMBC Oro
SCMBC Oro is your standard system in terms of facilities, offering your usual parking areas and signage.
However, one nice and notable touch is their provision of a couple of mechanical stations, complete with a few essential tools, a bike stand, and a pump – not bad! I love this and hope it’s something busier and more built-out systems like Durham would consider introducing.
Hardwood Ski and Bike
While less built-out than Horseshoe Resort, Hardwood still offers some excellent facilities.
With your trail pass, you’ll gain access to Hardwood’s parking lots, chalet, bathrooms, food truck, and full-service bike shop, something to keep in mind if your bike needs an emergency fix.
Local Shops
If you plan on riding Hardwood, visiting their shop is a good place to start. However, if they’re busy or unable to fix what you need to be fixed, then here are some other options to consider:
- The Bike Zone – Barrie
- Giant Barrie – Barrie (they’ll service any make, not just Giant)
- The Bike Stop – Orillia
- The Crank and Sprocket – Orillia
- Velocity Bike Werx – Mobile (they come to you!)
Accommodations
Here is a quick list of some places to help focus your search for accommodations:
- Horseshoe Resort – Horseshoe Valley
- Hampton Inn & Suites – Barrie
- Best Western Plus – Barrie
- Fairfield Inn & Suites – Orillia
- The Champlain Waterfront Hotel – Orillia
Wrap Up
Simcoe County offers some of Ontario’s most extensive mountain bike trails, each exciting and capable of inspiring you to improve your skills and become a better mountain biker.
This inspiring variety of trails paired with the superior elevation provided and a great mountain bike culture makes Simcoe Region an easy recommendation for anyone looking to plan their Ontario mountain bike vacation.
Side Note – My post, “The Best Ontario Bike Parks: 12 Places You Need to Ride,” includes the aforementioned Horseshoe Bike Park and Hardwood Ski and Bike. Give it a read to learn about ten other great bike parks in Ontario!
3. Caledon/Dufferin
Overview
Finally, we have Caledon/Dufferin – my home trails!
While this may insight a bit of bias, I genuinely believe the set of trails I’m about to discuss are worth a visit and offer some of the very best riding in Ontario.
The area contains four primary riding areas, namely:
While not as closely located to one another as Durham’s and Simcoe’s networks, it takes little effort to drive from one location to the next in a day, with a maximum driving time of roughly 40 minutes between Albion Hills and Dufferin Forest.
That said, the locations are better tackled in groups, with one day spent at Albion Hills and Palgrave (which can be ridden as one extensive system) and another at Mono Cliffs/Mono Tract and Dufferin Forest (only a 20-minute drive apart).
Overall, you’ll ride as classic as it gets cross country trails at Albion and Palgrave, full of punchy climbs and abrupt descents while experiencing more modern and wide open trails at Mono Cliffs/Mono Tract and Dufferin Forest.
Trail Type
Again, the systems vary, so let’s break down the trail type by each area!
Albion Hills
Albion Hills is your classic cross country trail system, with many abrupt climbs, tight squeezes between trees, and less emphasis on high-speed downhill sections than your more modern trails.
That said, it’s a highly engaging system, full of various technical features, tight and twisty turns, and lots of nuances from one trail to the next, which keeps things interesting.
The trails are primarily in old-growth forests, meaning you’re back to your classic dirt and roots type of trail. Thus, it doesn’t drain too well after heavy rain, and it’s best to give it time to dry out before riding.
My post, “Albion Hills: The Complete Ontario Mountain Biking Experience,” goes into much more detail about Albion and why I love their trails as much as I do. If you decide to visit Albion Hills, be sure to give it a read before you do.
Palgrave
Just a 5-minute pedal up the road from Albion Hills is Palgrave.
Overall, the trails are still your classic cross country style but with a modern twist that stretches everything out. This stretching means fewer tight turns and less abrupt climbs, allowing for higher speeds and much more flow.
Oddly enough, the trail material is quite different from Albion Hills, even though they are so close to one another. Palgrave is much sandier and drains far better than Albion Hills.
So, if it’s the Albion Hills/Palgrave day on the calendar and it rains, ride Palgrave first and then Albion to ensure you get the best trail conditions possible.
Finally, just like Albion Hills, I also have a post for Palgrave going into more detail about the system and what makes it great.
Be sure to give “Palgrave Mountain Biking: Riding the Roller Coaster of Caledon” a read if you’re planning on riding the trail network.
Mono Cliffs/Mono Tract
Next up is Mono Cliffs/Mono Tract.
These trails are situated in and next to Mono Cliffs Provincial Park, which features some of the most unique and interesting geography in Southern Ontario, full of exposed cliff faces and ancient ecosystems that spawned out of the last ice age.
The terrain varies, from flat and gravelly double track to tight singletrack through pine straw forest. It’s a great ride overall, but watch out for hikers and other trail users, as it is a mixed-use system. Watching out for others is especially important on the weekends when things get hectic (i.e. best to avoid riding on weekends if possible).
While this system is less mountain bike-focused than Albion Hills and Palgrave, it still offers some unique views and a memorable experience, so I’ve added it to the Dufferin/Caledon grouping.
As always, be sure to give my detailed guides to Mono Cliffs and Mono Tract a read before heading out!
Dufferin Forest
And finally, we have Dufferin Forest.
The largest of the four networks mentioned, Dufferin Forest is a sprawling and wild set of trails that is much more all-mountain/enduro focused when compared to the other three areas.
With upwards of 76M or 250ft of vertical, the trails offer sustained climbs and long descents, with 3 to 4km trails that take an average of 10-15 minutes to complete being the norm.
In terms of the terrain, it is on the sandier side, meaning this is another system that drains quite well after rainfalls. That said, in prolonged periods of little to no rain, it can be predominantly sandy; just something to consider if it hasn’t rained for a while when you visit.
Facilities
Overall, the facilities among the four locations are all quite similar, with Albion Hills being the one objection.
Regarding Palgrave, Mono Cliffs/Mono Tract, and Dufferin Forest, there are no facilities other than parking lots. Mono Cliffs offers bathroom facilities, but they are as basic as it gets (as in just a simple hole in the ground) and aren’t the nicest to use.
My post, “Mono Cliffs Provincial Park Trails: The Ultimate Hiking Guide,” provides much more information regarding Mono Cliffs and its facilities. While it is hiking-focused, there is some good information about parking and things to do in the area. Give it a read if you plan to visit Mono Cliffs/Mono Tract.
Albion Hills, as mentioned, is the one standout from this group. It provides comprehensive facilities, including parking, bathrooms and showers, a bike wash station, a campground, fire pits, and other nice-to-haves.
Again, my post, “Albion Hills: The Complete Mountain Bike Experience,” goes in-depth on Albion Hills and everything it offers, including the many facilities, so make sure to read it.
Local Shops
Surprisingly, this general area lacks bike shops. That said, here are two options in case you find yourself in a pickle.
- Cycling Elements – Orangeville (My Home Shop)
- Caledon Hills Cycling – Inglewood
And that’s it!
Accommodations
For accommodations, you can take a look at:
- Best Western Plus Orangeville Inn – Orangeville
- Hockley Valley Resort – Hockley Valley
- Millcroft Inn & Spa – Alton
- Mount Alverno – Caledon
Wrap Up
And there you have it, the Dufferin/Caledon trail network!
While less extensive than Durham Region or as blessed with vertical as Simcoe County, Dufferin/Caledon still punches well above its weight, offering a great variety of topography and trail building that keeps things fun yet challenging no matter where you go.
Honourable Mentions
The above recommendations are prime for a mountain bike vacation because they offer extensive enough trail systems to provide multiple days of riding from one location.
That said, there are certainly some other locations worth visiting in Ontario. Still, they don’t offer enough distance to warrant getting accommodations nearby and making a multi-day trip out of it.
Here are a few locations if you want to add a last-minute vacation ride!
Don Valley
The Don is an incredible and beloved system of mountain bike trails in the heart of downtown Toronto.
Riding here is quite the experience, with an extensive network of trails unlike anything else, providing an unforgettable ride.
My post, “Don Valley Mountain Bike Trails: The Ultimate Guide to Toronto’s One-of-a-Kind Mountain Bike Trails,” breaks down the system in more detail and outlines how to tackle a day riding these wild trails!
Hydrocut
Another beloved system, Hydrocut is located in Kitchener, Ontario and has been developed extensively over the last few decades.
The result is a tight-knit trail network diligently maintained by a vibrant community of mountain bikers.
It’s a fast and flowy system with several machine-built trails, wooden features, jumps, drops, and berms. It’s a great ride but lacks the distance needed for a full day and is undoubtedly better suited for a 2-3 hour ride.
Milton (HAFTA/Hilton Falls/Kelso)
Just west of Milton, Ontario, are HAFTA, Hilton Falls, and Kelso – three distinct yet adjacent systems that can be linked together for a fantastic day’s worth of riding.
HAFTA offers some of Ontario’s most technical mountain biking thanks to incredible rock work stretching for kilometres at a time. Hilton Falls eases up a bit and instead brings you close to nature, and the beautiful falls it’s named after. On the other hand, Kelso provides the next closest thing to Horseshoe Resort in terms of downhill riding, with long and sustained descents down the face of the Niagara Escarpment.
All-in-all, it’s a somewhat unusual riding experience. Still, the variety of trails keeps things exciting, and the rock work at HAFTA is tough enough to challenge even the best riders out there.
Final Thoughts on the Ultimate Ontario Mountain Bike Vacation
At first thought, one might not consider Ontario as a hub of mountain biking; after all, it is the densest and most urban province in Canada. But that density and urbanization have allowed Ontario to develop the thriving mountain bike scene it now has.
Thanks to the thousands of passionate Ontario mountain bikers and the many associations they are a part of, the province has developed some of the densest networks of mountain bike trails in the country, each complete with a unique style that reflects the personality of their trail builders.
And while it’d be great to visit them all, discovering their distinct differences and which ones you like best, this isn’t practical for 99% of the population. As such, the list provided here is a great starting point, narrowing down the hundreds of networks into a handful of systems all in close proximity to one another and easily rideable on a 3 to 5-day vacation.
If you ride any of these trail systems, let me know in the comments below about how it went and your first impressions!
Frequently Asked Questions
There are many places you can mountain bike in Ontario, including the Don Valley, Durham Forest, Dagmar, Albion Hills, Palgrave, Dufferin Forest, Copeland Forest, Horseshoe Resort, Hydrocut, HAFTA, Hilton Falls, Kelso, Jefferson Forest, SCMBC Oro, Hardwood Ski and Bike, Mono Cliffs Provincial Park, Mono Tract, South March Highlands, Turkey Point, Puslinch Tract/Twin Ponds, Waterdown, Blue Mountain, Three Stage, Porcupine Ridge, and many more.
Toronto is the best city for mountain biking in Ontario. The incredible Don Valley mountain bike trails are in the middle of the city, and most of Ontario’s best mountain bike trail systems, like Durham Forest, Albion Hills, Horseshoe Resort, and Hardwood Ski and Bike, are within a 1.5-hour drive of Toronto.
Trailforks is the best mountain biking app for Ontario. It has extensive maps of Ontario’s mountain bike trail networks, allowing you to navigate whichever trail you choose easily. Strava is also extensively used by Ontario mountain bikers to track their rides, providing unique insights into how fast your fellow mountain bikers are riding the trails you’re on.
The best months for mountain biking are May to October. Depending on the location, March/April and November/December may be rideable, but those months are often too cold and wet for most.
